Johnson did elaborate on Saban’s support of him, though, as Alabama (19-15) has made the NCAA Tournament for the first time under the third-year coach.

The ninth-seed Crimson Tide will play eighth-seed Virginia Tech (21-11) in the first round Thursday in Pittsburgh.

“He’s been very helpful in so many ways,” Johnson said. “Miss Terry has been helpful to my wife.”

Johnson then started talking about how going through the five-game losing skid going into the conference tournament and learning who’s there for him and who isn’t.

“You know, you find out a lot about everybody when you’re in a losing streak,” Johnson said. “You really do find out about everybody. You find out about people in the state, out of the state, alumni, fans, donor, supporters. You find out, man, when you’re in a tough stretch.”

Saban been one of those who has had Johnson’s back regardless of what has happened.

Alabama's coach Nick Saban waves to fans as he parades down the street during the NCAA college football national championship parade, Saturday, Jan. 20, 2018, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Alabama won the national championship game against Georgia 26-23 in overtime.(Photo11: Brynn Anderson, AP)

“We have a group of people that’s in our inner circle of which Coach (Saban) is one of them that’s just behind us through thick and thin,” Johnson said.

Johnson added that athletic Greg Byrne has been “in the foxhole” with him since he arrived on campus at Alabama’s new athletic director in March 2017.

“That’s a great feeling, man, when your athletic director is behind you,” said Johnson, who was fired from two NBA head coaching jobs in Dallas and Brooklyn. “He called all the time during the losing streak. Our president Dr. (Stuart R.) Bell was showing up at games even when we weren’t playing great. I could keep going on and on, (but) that’s what family is about. That’s what a marriage is all about.”

Johnson said he’s been with his wife, Cassandra, for “almost 27 years,” as they got married in 1991 but drew big laughs in the news conference when saying “every day is not a Sunday” when meaning to say sunny.

“OK?” Johnson said. “Or Sunday or sunny. Sometimes it’s partly cloudy, rain, thunderstorms, but you got to hang in there. That’s what I love about our team and our coaching staff, our administration and all the people that really care deeply about what we’re trying to build.”

Saban is one of those people.

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